Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 27 Apr 14 - 10:11 AM

I know this is an old thread but the OP was asking for origins. Here's a short summary of what we know.

Charley states he can trace it back to the 30s but no evidence presented.

Billy Weekes, very knowledgeable on Music Hall origins, states 'a mock music hall song' probably dating from mid 20thc.

It can be found in recent anthologies of WWII songs.

Can anyone take it back further for definite?

It is a typical offering of the bards of officers' messes in WWII.

Given the format and subject matter it would have spread like wildfire through the forces at that time.

It is worth adding that when I first heard it in the 60s it was being performed in a very camp style.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: Lighter
Date: 30 Apr 14 - 07:35 PM

Steve, the novelist Anthony Powell suggests in his memoir "Messengers of the Day" (1978) that he heard the song in London in the late '20s or early '30s.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: Lighter
Date: 30 Apr 14 - 07:50 PM

Alan Weeks, "A Bloody Picnic: Tommy's Humour 1914-18" (2010) reports that the song was sung at Christmas, 1916, by "a drunk captain" of 94 Field Ambulance, stationed at Couin.

I don't know Weeks's source of information, but there seems to be nothing improbable in the claim that the song was known in the First World War.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 01 May 14 - 03:12 PM

Many thanks, Jon.
You're a goldmine of information. Were thespians pilloried in such a way prior to the 1930s? A good pointer might be to find the earliest version and look at the content. Later additions are often easily dated by contemporary references. The earliest versions I have access to are presented as from WWII.

If the song predates WWI there is a good chance we will never know its origins.

It certainly doesn't appear on broadsides or sheet music in any of the major collections.

Ploughing through contemporary WWI accounts might throw up some more detailed info but I don't know who has the access and time for this.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: Lighter
Date: 01 May 14 - 06:16 PM

Steve, the only obviously "datable" text is the one that includes Charlie's topical stanza about the Japanese making an attack. That must dates to before 1945. (Logue/ Vicarion seems to have learned much of his material in the Army in the late '40s.)

The primitive nature of the suggested skit seems consistent with a pre-1918 origin - though maybe not terrifically so.

Douglas Fairbanks, in BanjoRay's version, was probably Hollywood's biggest star by 1918, but his fame continued into the early '30s.

It's not directly related, but I'm reminded of the mostly American concept of the "ham actor," a term that dates back to before 1890.

The song's dry humor, apparent in every version, would be quite consistent with an Oxbridge origin, though that's merely an opinion.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 May 14 - 06:04 PM

Oxbridge certainly seems plausible.

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Jun 14 - 05:32 AM

Here's a couple of extra verses I made up:

It's easy to fall off to sleep
Then my entry cue might be forgotten
If you're looking for me come and peep
Through the hole in the elephant's bottom!

Some actors get marvellous parts
Their characters evil and heinous    But
Oscars aren't given to those who have striven
Depicting an elephant's anus

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: GUEST,FormerDoorkeeperAtBradshawTavern
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 09:46 AM

Alasdair (Alistair?) Cameron used to sing it with another verse at Bradshaw Tavern in early 70s

At the end of each matinee show
I've a trick for the kids if I spot'em
"Look mummy" they cry as I wave them goodbye
Through the hole in the elephant's bottom

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: GUEST,FormerDoorkeeperAtBradshawTavern
Date: 02 Apr 15 - 10:04 AM

Come to think of it, Aladair Cameron's version to the tiger verse was phrased slightly differently, presumably because his verses usually had a rhyme in the 3rd line...

There are tiger skins all round my house
While out on safari I got 'em
For tigers do not expect to be shot
Through the hole in the elephant's bottom

Subject: RE: Origins: The Hole in the Elephant's Bottom
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 02:31 PM

General confusion
The hole referred to is an old theatrical nickname for the spyhole in a wall of the set on stage
The a covering flap was raised so that stage staff could see the action on stage and give cues for sound effects/entrances etc
Original song lyrics had therefore double meaning
Later performers treated the hole literally